Candidates Say the Darndest Things

In these days of Youtube, "trackers," blogs and the 24-hour news cycle, it seems like you can't get away with saying just any old thing anymore if you're running for office.


Did you hear about the time Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee referred to his home state of Arkansas as a "banana republic?" On another occasion, he jokingly attributed his 110-pound weight loss to spending time in a concentration camp.


Elsewhere:

Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, defended his five sons' decisions not to enlist in the military and said "one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected." Later, the Republican said he misspoke, explaining: "I didn't mean in any way to compare service in the country with my boys in any way."


Bill Richardson, New Mexico's governor, said "It's a choice" and then "you know, I'm not a scientist" when gay-rights activists asked during a forum whether people are born gay or whether they choose homosexuality. He quickly clarified. The Democrat also has said, "I screwed up" when citing conservative Byron White as a model Supreme Court justice.